Should You Visit Cinque Terre as a Day Trip from Florence?

Of course you should! In this post, we will talk about the best ways to get there and how to get around.

Cinque Terre means literally “five lands”. These five stunning villages are (seemingly precariously) perched on mountains overlooking the Ligurian portion of the Mediterranean Sea. Several years ago, after completing a puzzle featuring the stunning Manarola (one of the 5 towns that make up Cinque Terre), I decided I would absolutely visit one day. But, as I was planning our trip to Italy, I realized we would not have the time to stay overnight, and we were not really travelling in the right season to stay over for multiple days, anyway. So, a day trip was our best option!

I read several articles asserting that you really need multiple days there and that it is too far from Florence to be considered a day trip. Based on that, I had my concerns about attempting it. But I’m here to tell you that it was a great day, and I left completely satisfied!

You can take a train to La Spezia and then catch the regional train to the 5 towns, drive yourself, or opt for a guided tour. Let’s investigate those options more fully so you can determine what will be best for you!

How to Get to Cinque Terre by Train

This is likely the option with the longest time in transit, but if you are dead set against renting a car/having a driver or a guided tour, it IS possible to get there solely by train from Florence. It will take approximately 2.5 hours if the connections match up perfectly, but between 3-4 hours is more probable.

Start at the Santa Novella station in Florence (unless you flew in, that is likely how you arrived there). There are currently 4 departures daily heading straight to La Spezia (absolutely check out the daily schedule for the time frame you will be going). From there, you take the regional train that runs all day through Cinque Terre. Right now, it’s every 15 minutes (again, please check before going). *IMPORTANT*: Make sure you have some euros for train restrooms! Option 2 is to take will take the train from Santa Novella to Pisa Centrale (maybe check out that tower that doesn’t stand up straight) and transfer on to La Spezia Centrale, followed by the regional train through Cinque Terre. The train going to Pisa has plenty of departure times, so offers more flexibility.

The towns in order of closest to La Spezia are: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare. You’re there, visit them all if you have time! If you don’t, prioritize Riomaggiore, Manarola, and Monterosso.

Cinque Terre by Train + by Boat or by Foot

For a unique way to see Cinque Terre, you can take the train route detailed above to La Spezia, followed by a ferry around the villages. The ferry is available from around the end of March through late October. If you are there during that time frame, you can get some great views from the water!

Alternatively, 48 hiking trails connect the villages. Be sure to check the current status of any trails you plan to take – they tend to get washed out and need varying amounts of maintenance. Here is a great site plan which legs you may want to hike and to check the current situation for your trip. Since the whole area is considered a national park (as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site), you will need a Cinque Terre card for either the train or the trail unless you visit during the off-season.

How about Driving to Cinque Terre?

If you are brave enough to drive in Italy (at least you don’t have to go through Rome), this is another option! You will still need to park in La Spezia and take the regional train to get to the villages of Cinque Terre. Monterosso is the only one you can reach by car, but it’s also the furthest so I wouldn’t recommend that.

It will take you approximately 2 hours to reach La Spezia by car from Florence if conditions are perfect (and when are conditions ever perfect?). If you elect to drive to Monterosso instead, that’s another 30 minutes.

If you don’t want to drive yourself, you can always hire a private driver! That is the most expensive option, but if you can afford the premium cost and would prefer the flexibility of not relying on public transportation, go for it!

The Guided Tour Option

This one was our pick! Our trip to Cinque Terre was the last day of our trip, and I wanted to take my brain out of the equation and let someone else handle the logistics. With a guided tour, transportation is taken care of on your behalf so there are no surprises (like missing the last train of the day). A good guide gives you so much more context about the sights you are seeing, which enhances your enjoyment.

Many of the tours from Florence to Cinque Terre include Pisa as well. We went with only Cinque Terre to maximize our time there. This, this, and this are great tour options (we went with #3, we wanted the opportunity to do some hiking as well.

Another plus for opting for a group tour – you have an opportunity to meet people from other countries/regions. In our tour, there was a mother/daughter visiting from Poland, a solo grandmother American expat living in Israel, a young solo woman from Colombia, and a couple honeymooning from NYC.

While You’re There

Eating:

Cinque Terre is particularly known for pesto, focaccia, and seafood/fish. Pesto originated in the region, and is the greenest, freshest version you can imagine. The seafood is equally as fresh and delicious, and the focaccia is warm and fluffy. Of course, Italian gelato is always a good idea, especially if you are there in the summertime.

Activities:

If it’s warm, hit the beach! Monterosso al Mare in particular has a great beach area. We loved exploring all the nooks and crannies of the towns as well. The harbor at Vernazza is a great place to relax and watch the sun hitting the clear waters. Another perk for me – all the friendly cats! They looked well cared for, and I was delighted when one followed me to our chosen restaurant and sat in my lap while we ate. There is a cat refuge area on the trail between Monterosso and Vernazza with bins of food and feeding instructions for humans. I couldn’t find an online presence for the specific organization that runs the cat refuge, but if you are inclined to donate to animals in the area in need, check out the SPCA Italia!

What to Wear:

Dress for comfort and the weather! These towns are hilly, and you will likely be doing at least *some* hiking, so good shoes are a must. Since it’s a long day, dress in layers as well. Even on a warm day, you’ll get some breeze from the Mediterranean. And don’t forget the sunblock!

Visiting Cinque Terre is truly a bucket list item. I hope you now feel armed with the confidence and knowledge to make your way there and experience a one of a kind location! Ciao!